Beginning Tools for Acrylic Painting

Quinn Clear Acrylic Palette 8×12"

Start with a clear acrlyic palette. The palette is clear because it helps the artist sees the colors better. Some artists also like a light gray palette, but the clear one can help the acrylic painter see the true color of the paint or the hues they've mixed. You can purchase a couple of these for the painter, or for yourself, because a painter can never have too many palettes.

100-PIECE PLASTIC RAZOR BLADES

$4.70

This is something you would not consider if you've never worked with acrylic paint: a razor blade. Artists can use these to clean any dried paint off their palettes. Acrylic paint dries fast. Fortunately, because of its structure, it also scrapes and peels off plastic easily, especially when you use a razor blade.

Essentials Artist Pack-Palette Paper

$3.96

In addition to the sturdy palette, it's useful to have a pad of acrylic palette paper. These sheets are disposable and make it easy for artists to work on more than one painting at a time. Artists shouldn't be limited by the size of their palette, and having quick access to a clean palette sheet can help keep the creative juices flowing.

12 Round Tip Paint Brushes Oil Acrylic Painting Craft

$18.50

The acrylic painter needs long-handled brushes. If you're shopping for brushes, avoid short-handled brushes which are mostly uses for watercolor painting. This set of round-tip brushes has an incredible price and gives the acrylic painter a nice selection of brush sizes.

Guerrilla Painter Painter Box 9x12"

It's rugged, it's sexy, it's what every acrylic (or oil, or watercolor) painter needs. The box stores small canvas, paint brushes and can be used to mix paint, paint en plein air or to organize and store paints. For the artist on the go, it's a must-have item. How much do you love the artist in your life? Enough to buy them a painter's box? Good for you!

GOLDEN Matte Medium 8 oz Jar

Acrylic painters have different tricks up their sleeves. Acrylic mediums are the secret ingredients painters use to manipulate acrylic paint. With a jar of matte medium, the acrylic painter can create a more matte painting, as the medium reduces the glossy look of acrylic paints. The matte medium is versatile and can also be used to create translucent layers. This is one product acrylic painters need to use in their own painting experiments.

Acrylic Medium Golden Acrylic Flow Release 8 oz bottle

$11.05

Another way acrylic painters control their paints is with Golden Acrylic Flow Medium. Just a drop or two goes a long way. Don't overuse the medium, though, or your paint will meander into places on the canvas where you never wanted it. The acrylic flow medium does come in larger bottles, but the small squirt bottle is the best way to use it. You can always buy a bigger bottle and use it to refill this one.

Acrylic Medium Golden Retarder 16 oz jar

Remember how acrylic paints dry fast? The are the painting opposites of oils, which may take weeks to dry. Painters can slow down the drying time of acrylic paints with a drop or two of Acrylic Medium Golden Retarder. Mix it directly into the paint on the palette. With a retarder, the painter will have more time to work in the wet paint on the canvas.